Classical Stark Effect

This Live Script explores classical motion of a particle subject to an attractive inverse-square law force plus a constant force in 3D.

This Live Script calculates numerically the classical motion of a particle subject to an attractive inverse-square law force plus a constant force in three dimensions. Applications include the motion of an electron in the electrostatic force field of a fixed proton subject to a constant uniform electric field (the classical Stark effect) and the motion of a rocket moving in the gravitational field of a spherically symmetric body while exerting constant thrust in some direction.

The script builds various initial Keplerian reference elliptical orbits and integrates the equations of motion for a range of external field strengths. It plots for each a three-dimensional trajectory, various conserved quantities over time, and the power spectra of the coordinate functions. An optional animation of the motion is produced. Default parameters are set to explore the evolution of a planar orbit with imposed field strength illustrating precession at low external field strength, complex behavior at intermeidate field strength, and ionization above a critical field strength.

This script may interest instructors and students in physics and related fields. 'Try this' suggestions to adjust parameters with sliders along with coding 'Challenges' and references are provided for further exploration. Additional educational Live Scripts by the author are available here.